Shoe manufacturing



G. W. FOSS ET AL Dec. 8, 1970 SHOE MANUFACTURING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12, 1968 Dec. 8, 1970 w 055 ET AL 3,545,923

Y SHOE MANUFACTURING Filed Nov. 12, 1968 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,545,023 SHOE MANUFACTURING George W. Foss, 3 Berkeley Ave., Haverhill, Mass. 01830; and Robert G. Leib, 316 Moul Ave.; James E. Campbell, RD. 5; and Thomas G. Smith, 19 Northview Drive, all of Hanover, Pa. 17331 Filed Nov. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 774,641 Int. Cl. A43d 11/00, 95/00 US. Cl. 1254.3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Dielectric heating apparatus for activating shoe stiffener material including an elastic electrode of flexible, elastic, electrically conductive material mounted for movement relative to a second electrode.

This invention relates to shoe manufacturing.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide, in dielectric heating apparatus for activating the stiffener material used in shoe counters and box toes, an and improved electrode system for applying uniform pressure to the shoe upper and stiffener. Other objects include providing a system of the type mentioned which will mold and shape the shoe upper and stiffener and emboss a design on the shoe upper in a single operation.

The invention features, in dielectric heating apparatus for activating shoe stilfener material, an elastic electrode of flexible, elastic, electrically conductive material mounted for movement relative to a second electrode. In preferred embodiments the electrically conductive material is encapsulated within flexible, elastic, insulating material, the second electrode is shaped to the contour of a shoe upper, a raised design is provided on the surface of the insulating material which engages the shoe upper, and the elastic electrode is mounted over the surface of a resilient harness shaped to the exterior contour of a portion of a shoe.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken together with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of dielectric heating apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of portions of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 3 is a exploded perspective view of portions of the apparatus of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown dielectric heating apparatus, generally designated 10, comprising a power supply 12, a radio frequency oscillator 14, a male electrode 16, a female electrode 18 and a harness 20, and a pneumatic press 22 for moving female electrode As more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, male electrode 16 is molded in the shape of the inside contour of a shoe. Female electrode 18 includes a flat sheet 24 of flexible, elastically elongatable, electrically conductive material (in the preferred embodiment conductive silicone rubber, though other materials such as conductive plastic sold by Emerson and Gaming, Inc., under the trade name Eccoshield SV may also be used) encapsulated within an insulating covering of three sheets 26, 28, 30 of flexible, elastically elongated, electrically insulating material (such as rubber or a suitable organic plastic). A raised design is provided on the surface of sheet 30 facing male electrode 16.

Harness 20 is constructed of resilient, flexible organic 18 and harness 20 toward and away from male electrode plastic and is mounted between female electrode 18 and press 22. The surface 21 of harness 20 facing male electrode 16 is molded to the contour of the exterior heel portion of a shoe upper. The length, along the contour, of harness 20 is slightly greater than the relaxed length of the female electrode.

The ends of female electrode 18 and harness 20 are secured together and to press 22 by bolts 32. As shown, press 22 includes two press arms 34, 36 hingedly connected to the opposite ends of a transverse bar 38. Springs 40 adjacent each hinge connection engage bar 38 and projections 35, 37 on the facing portions of arms 34, 36 and bias the arms away from each other. The piston 42 of an air cylinder 44 is secured to bar 38 and a spring (not shown) within the air cylinder biases the piston (and therefore female electrode 18) in the direction away from male electrode 16.

A pushbutton switch 46 and timer assembly 48 mounted on a control panel 50 are provided to control movement of press 22 toward and away from male electrode 16. A microswitch 52 mounted adjacent one end 54 of bar 36 is connected to and controls oscillator 14.

Male electrode 16 and press 22 are electrically connected to ground. Conductive sheet 24 of female electrode 18 is connected to the output of oscillator 14 and electrically insulated from press 22.

In operation, a counter of thermoplastic material is inserted between the lining and heel portion of a shoe upper and the upper placed over male electrode 16. Pushbutton 46 is pressed to activate air cylinder 44 and move female electrode 18 into engagement with the shoe upper. As press 22 moves toward male electrode 16, bar 38 engages and closes microswitch 52, thereby activating oscillator 14 and causing a high frequency electric field in the shoe upper and counter 16, and starts timer 48. At the end of a predetermined interval, timer 48 deactivates oscillator 14 and cylinder 44.

As previously indicated, all portions of female electrode 18 are flexible and elastic, and harness 22, though molded to the contour of the shoe heel portion, is resilient. As female electrode 18 is pressed against the shoe upper, it conforms to and shapes the shoe upper and counter and, together with harness 22, applies uniform pressure thereto. The obverse of the raised design on sheet 30 is embossed into the upper, and the changing electric field in the shoe material quickly heats the counter (thereby soften ing it for shaping) and bonds it to the upper.

Other embodiments within the scope of the following claims will occur to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is: 1. In dielectric heating apparatus for activating shoe stiffener materiaLin combination:

a first dielectic heating electrode of flexible, elastic, electrically conductive material; and,

a second dielectric heating; electrode, and,

at least one of said electrodes being mounted for movement toward and away from the other of said electrodes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first electrode includes flexible, elastic, electrically insulating material for engaging a shoe surrounding said conductive material.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second electrode is shaped to the contour of a shoe upper.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a design is provided on the portion of said insulating material facing said second electrode.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first electrode is secured to a molded harness of resilient material.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said harness includes a surface molded to the contour of an exterior portion of a shoe upper and said first electrode is mounted intermediate said surface and said second electrode.

'7. The apparatus of claim 6 including a press for moving said first electrode and said harness toward and away from said male electrode and wherein end portions of said first electrode and said harness are secured to each other and to said press.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 including a power supply connected to said electrodes and timing apparatus connected to said power supply and responsive to movement of said press for controlling application of electric power from said power supply to said electrodes.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second electrode is shaped to the contour of a shoe upper and said first electrode is substantially rectangular in cross-section.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein a design is pro- -vided on the surface of said first electrode facing said second electrode.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 

